hosphorescence_ from the dead body of a Christianity, that
would not admit itself to be dead, and lie buried with all its
unspeakable putrescences, as a venerable dead one ought!--Surely
detestable enough.--To all which Margaret listened with much good
nature; though of course with sad reflections not a few.*--She
is coming back to us, she promises. Her dialect is very
vernacular,--extremely exotic in the London climate. If she do
not gravitate too irresistibly towards that class of New-Era
people (which includes whatsoever we have of prurient, esurient,
morbid, flimsy, and in fact pitiable and unprofitable, and is at
a sad discount among men of sense), she may get into good tracks
of inquiry and connection here, and be very useful to herself and
others. I could not show her Alfred (he has been here since) nor
Landor: but surely if I can I will,--that or a hundred times as
much as that,--when she returns.--They tell me you are about
collecting your Poems. Well, though I do not approve of rhyme at
all, yet it is impossible Emerson in rhyme or prose can put down
any thought that was in his heart but I should wish to get into
mine. So let me have the Book as fast as may be. And do others
like it if you will take circumbendibuses for sound's sake! And
excuse the Critic who seems to you so unmusical; and say, It is
the nature of beast! Adieu, dear Friend: write to me, write
to me.

Yours ever,
T. Carlyle

--------
* Miss Fullers impressions of Carlyle, much to this effect, may
be found in the "Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli," Boston,
1852, Vol. II. pp. 184-190.
---------

CXVII. Emerson to Carlyle

Concord, 31 January, 1847

My Dear Carlyle,--Your letter came with a blessing last week. I
had already learned from Margaret Fuller, at Paris, that you had
been very good and gentle to her;--brilliant and prevailing, of
course, but, I inferred, had actually restrained the volleys and
modulated the thunder, out of true courtesy and goodness of
nature, which was worthy of all praise in a spoiled conqueror at
this time of day. Especially, too, she expressed a true
recognition and love of Jane Carlyle; and thus her visit proved
a solid satisfaction; to me, also, who think that few people
have so well earned their pleasures as she.

She wrote me a long letter; she has been very happy in England,
and her time and strength fully employed. Her description of you
and your discourse (which I r